The softball team (5-34 overall, 1-14 Patriot League) lost all three games against No. 22 ranked Boston University (45-4-1 overall, 15-0 Patriot League) at home this past weekend. The Leopards then finished their home slate Wednesday night against Marist College (34-16 overall), dropping the first game in the doubleheader 9-3, but winning the second 6-5.
In the opening game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the nationally-ranked Terriers, both teams got off to a slow start as the first three innings remained scoreless. However, Boston slowly took control of the game by scoring a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
The Leopards’ first hit came in the fourth when junior outfielder Mary Grace O’Neill slapped a single to center field. Two more hits came in the sixth from sophomore outfielder Olivia Catalina and senior Paige Sandidge, who plays outfielder, utility player and catcher. However, Lafayette’s offense was kept in check by the Terriers’ pitching. Boston sealed the victory by scoring three in the seventh, setting the final score at 6-0.
Game two on Saturday started much faster, as Boston scored all 12 of its runs in the first three innings. The Terriers scored six runs on eight hits in the first inning before getting to home plate five more times in the second. Lafayette’s only hit of the game came in the fourth as sophomore first baseman and pitcher Megan Coyle hit a single to center field. Senior pitcher and third baseman Kailee Sawai pitched one strikeout in the 12-0 loss.
On Sunday, the Leopards hosted their senior day celebration prior to the final matchup of the series. The team honored the contributions of six members of the class of 2024.
Senior pitcher Jacqueline Cal started the game by allowing only one hit in the first three innings. The Terriers eventually broke through by scoring five runs in a flurry in the fourth and the sixth innings.
A major highlight of the day for the Leopards came in the sixth when Coyle sent a ball past the fence for a team-leading fourth home run of the year. Her effort put Lafayette on the score sheet for the first time all weekend as it closed the weekend with a 10-1 loss.
The Leopards played two close games against Marist on Wednesday afternoon, splitting the doubleheader against the Red Foxes.
The first game remained scoreless until the third inning, where Marist notched two runs in the top of the third. However, the Leopards quickly responded in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-RBI single from Coyle. Sandidge would then drive Coyle in on a fielder’s choice to take the lead.
However, Marist would go on to score seven in the top of the fifth and win the game 9-3.
In the second game, Marist took an early lead in the first inning and notched another run in the fourth to take a two-run lead. However, two three-run innings from the Leopards, thanks to a three-run home run from Coyle in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth, propelled the Leopards above the Red Foxes. Despite a late seventh-inning charge from Marist, the Maroon and White held on to win the game 6-5.
The Leopards will close out their season with a three-game series in Worcester, Massachusetts, as they face the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders (11-35 overall, 1-14 Patriot League) this weekend.
Three members of the softball team did not respond to requests for comment.
